FIRST AID FOR CHEMICAL EXPOSURE: ARE YOU PREPARED?

Safe worksites are everyone’s responsibility to prevent and minimize the risk for accidents and injuries. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) presents a system for preparing and/or evaluating first-aid recommendations for chemical exposures in the workplace to be used by people who have a basic understanding of chemicals and their hazards and who write or evaluate first-aid recommendations for Safety Data Sheets. Easy to use and simple to follow First Aid Flow charts for chemical exposure are included for your worksite (if applicable).

PART 1: A Basic Approach to First-Aid for the Safety Data Sheet

First-aid is defined as per WSIB “First aid is the one-time treatment or care and any follow-up visit(s) for observation purposes only.” In serious cases, first-aid is necessary to sustain life. The First-Aid Measures section on a Safety Data Sheet provides recommendations on how to minimize the effects of an accidental exposure to a chemical product. The recommendations describe measures that trained first-aid providers are able to safely use at the scene of a chemical exposure.

Tips on how to write a first aid safety data sheet

The First-Aid Procedures section on a Safety Data Sheet provides recommendations on how to minimize the effects of an accidental exposure to a chemical product. The recommendations describe measures that trained first-aid providers are able to safely use at the scene of a chemical exposure.

Keep recommendations simple and advise on the use of materials that are readily available in your workplace (ie. Eye wash station)

Provide instructions for first aid activities that attend to the specific health effects of the product

Do not recommend procedures that could cause additional harm or may complicate subsequent medical care

First-Aid Measures section should include procedures that are able to be provided by a first-aider until medical services arrive

Easy to use and simple to follow First Aid Flow charts for chemical exposure are included for your worksite (if applicable). The First Aid Flow charts, which guide you to the selection of appropriate first aid advice for each route of exposure.